nd at Plymouth, where the Vice-Admiral claims her. Sir W. Pen would
have me speak to the latter, which I did, and I think without any
offence, but afterwards I was sorry for it, and Sir W. Pen did plainly
say that he had no mind to speak to the Duke of York about it, so that
he put me upon it, but it shall be, the last time that I will do such
another thing, though I think no manner of hurt done by it to me at
all. That done I to walk in the Parke, where to the Queene's Chapel,
and there heard a fryer preach with his cord about his middle, in
Portuguese, something I could understand, showing that God did respect
the meek and humble, as well as the high and rich. He was full of
action, but very decent and good, I thought, and his manner of delivery
very good. Then I went back to White Hall, and there up to the closet,
and spoke with several people till sermon was ended, which was preached
by the Bishop of Hereford, an old good man, that they say made an
excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great gallant,
having L1500 per annum, patrimony, and is a Knight Barronet; was turned
from his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud. He and the Bishop of
Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops that the King do say he cannot
have bad sermons from. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me,
that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that he
do believe he do stand in a likely way to go Governor; though he says,
and showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington, who hath offered
a great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he having a fine
lady, and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way. After
Chapel I down and took out my wife from the pew, where she was talking
with a lady whom I knew not till I was gone. It was Mrs. Ashfield of
Brampton, who had with much civility been, it seems, at our house to see
her. I am sorry I did not show her any more respect. With my wife to
Sir G. Carteret's, where we dined and mightily made of, and most
extraordinary people they are to continue friendship with for goodness,
virtue, and nobleness and interest. After dinner he and I alone awhile
and did joy ourselves in my Lord Sandwich's being out of the way all
this time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by thus being forced
to keep only small squadrons out, but do tell me that it was not choice,
but only force, that we could not keep out the whole fleete. He tells me
that the King i